Image:Newhalls Inn. © Queensferry History Group
Formerly known as the Newhalls Inn, this is a ‘B’ listed building with several additions and alterations over the years. It was certainly renamed the ‘Hawes Inn ‘by 1886. In fact evidence shows that in the book "Duncan's Itinerary of Scotland 1820" it is listed as "The Hawes Inn" then.
The Hawes Inn, 7 Newhalls Road, South Queensferry, is a late 17th century Coaching Inn, with a date stone on the south east wall which says JS- 1638- BB, taken from the old house, Newhalls (no information on the 'old house' as yet). These initials are believed to be merchant John Smith, and his wife Bessie Bathgate. During the eighteenth-century, the inn was used as a change house for stagecoaches using the Newhalls Ferry and the adjacent ‘Hawes Garage’ used to be the stables and coach-house.
Image: Hawes Inn. © Queensferry History Group
Image: Hawes Garage today.
The Hawes Inn lies at the east end of Queensferry, almost under the Forth Rail Bridge which was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015 on its 125th anniversary.
Image: Hawes Inn. © Queensferry History Group
It has been modernised into a multi-roomed pub but with salvaged furniture and wooden beams creating an 'olde worlde' feel it is oozing rural charm and rustic character. Today the Hawes Inn offers seasonal pub food, cask ales and fine wines. There is a roaring log fire for the winter as well as a pretty beer garden for the summer months It is now part of the ‘Vintage Inns’ collection of pubs. The hotel area, ‘Innkeepers Lodge’ is next door to the pub/restaurant
Image: Robert Louis Stevenson, Hulton Archive, Getty Images
Robert Louis Stevenson, born in Edinburgh in 13th November 1850, is said to have been staying in room number 13 in 1886 when he came up with the idea of ‘Kidnapped’ and started writing the novel there. Indeed the Hawes inn features in the story as the place where the kidnapping of the hero, David Balfour, was arranged. There are or were, 4 painted panels of the story's main characters on the principle elevation. The inn also has other literary connections: it is mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's 'Antiquary' and again by Stevenson in 'Memories and Portraits'.
Image: Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. Wikipedia
Proprietors and Tenants
Information of early Proprietors and tenants are difficult to find due to lack of records. We have some information covering 1860's up to 1930's. More recent information is alo hard to come by. As more names and information comes to light, they will be added.
The Proprietor from at least 1860 – 1930, looking at available valuation rolls, was the Earl of Rosebery.
In the 1869 valuation he is named Archibald Philip Primrose 5th Earl of Rosebery 1847 – 1929, married to Hannah Rothschild who inherited her father’s fortune in 1874 to become the richest woman in Britain. She died of Typhoid at Dalmeny House in 1890 aged 39. Their second son Neil Primrose died from wounds received in action during WW1, in Palestine in 1917, leading his squadron of the 1st Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry in the 3rd Battle of Gaza.
Information of early Proprietors and tenants are difficult to find due to lack of records. We have some information covering 1860's up to 1930's. More recent information is alo hard to come by. As more names and information comes to light, they will be added.
The Proprietor from at least 1860 – 1930, looking at available valuation rolls, was the Earl of Rosebery.
In the 1869 valuation he is named Archibald Philip Primrose 5th Earl of Rosebery 1847 – 1929, married to Hannah Rothschild who inherited her father’s fortune in 1874 to become the richest woman in Britain. She died of Typhoid at Dalmeny House in 1890 aged 39. Their second son Neil Primrose died from wounds received in action during WW1, in Palestine in 1917, leading his squadron of the 1st Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry in the 3rd Battle of Gaza.
Image: Abert Edward H. M. A. Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery. Wikipedia
From 1930 onwards the Proprietor would have been the 6th Earl of Rosebery, Albert Edward H.M.A. Primrose. (1882 – 1974)
Image: Dalmeny House, Photographer-Jonathan Oldenbuck
In the 1930 valuation, Proprietor Rosebery Estates per Major R.F Brebner, The Leuchold, Dalmeny House.(He died of Tuberculosis, a retired Estate Factor in West Peterculter, Aberdeen, in 1952 aged 74, usual address, Dolphington House, Queensferry)
Mr Francis Wilson was tenant from 1860- 1962, according to valuation Rolls, and this included Inn, Stables and Land. Mr Francis Wilson, an innkeeper in Newhalls, died in 1862 aged 44. His wife, Margaret Wilson, took over as Tenant from 1862 - 1870. She died in Edinburgh in 1883 aged 73.
Thomas Wilkie was Tenant in 1875, he died of General Paralysis, in Newhalls, Queensferry in 1877, aged 77. His wife Margaret Wilkie was Tenant from 1876 – 1882. She died of a thrombosis, in Newhalls Inn, in 1883 aged 49. (big age gap).
Image: Parliament Supreme Court of Scotland. Wikipedia
Robert Lumsden, Accountant and Hotel Keeper, was born in Leith. He was proprietor from 1883 until he died in the Newhalls Hotel in 1919 aged 70.
Robina McLean married Alan Turner, a Solicitor in the Supreme Courts, in 1914, in the Cramond Brig Hotel, while she was Proprietor there. She became Tenant of the Hawes Inn, as Robina Turner, from 1920 until 1930. She died in Barnton in 1941 aged 64.
Robina McLean married Alan Turner, a Solicitor in the Supreme Courts, in 1914, in the Cramond Brig Hotel, while she was Proprietor there. She became Tenant of the Hawes Inn, as Robina Turner, from 1920 until 1930. She died in Barnton in 1941 aged 64.
image: Cramond Brig Hotel, now Miller & Carter Steakhouse.
The Hawes Inn was owned/leased by the Usher Vaux Group around the late 60's and early 70's along with the Allegro, Daniel Browns and the Hunters Tryst.
We hope to be able to add to this feature as more information comes to light.
© Queensferry History Group 2017
